While there’s a brief lull in the Sevens Series, let’s re-visit the Mother-of-all-Sevens and the one title that continues to elude the BlitzBokke… The Cathay Pacific/Credit Suisse Hong Kong Sevens! (pictures only)

While there’s a brief lull in the Sevens Series, let’s re-visit the Mother-of-all-Sevens and the one title that continues to elude the BlitzBokke… The Cathay Pacific/Credit Suisse Hong Kong Sevens! (pictures only)

The SANZAR threesome at Joe Bananas, WanChai post HK Sevens

Springbok Sevens coach Paul Treu comments on his Team’s defence of their 2008 Adelaide Sevens title as well as what the IRB Sevens World Series title means to the side.

Captain for the Adelaide Sevens 2009 Cup Final, Mpho (Impi) Mbiyozo shares his thoughts on the Bokke’s successful defence of their 2008 Adelaide Sevens title as well as what the IRB Sevens World Series means to the Team.

With no coverage in my home (my limited satelite TV service and my computers), Blitzbokke.com ventured out into Hong Kong’s Tsim Sha Tsui (TST) district this morning (near to where the Bokke stayed last week during the Hong Kong Sevens) in search of DSTV’s Supersport1 coverage.  I found said coverage at TST’s Delaney’s Irish Pub but sadly they were showing some ACAA Basketball and with only one decoder, they were NOT able to accommodate me. Bliksem. 

However, someone suggested an online option and before you could say… New-Zealand-will-not-be-an-option-in-this-year’s-IRB-Sevens-World-Series….. I was connected!

So for the first couple of games of the (Hong Kong) morning, I reported, game-by-game, on the action directly from the Adelaide Cricket Oval!  I was enjoying a traditional Irish breakfast (with black-pudding nogal! Siessa!) while typing the goings-on from Australia directly on www.blitzbokke.com.

With a 2 hour-break between the Bokke’s win over New Zealand and their Semi-Final clash with Fiji, I moved my ‘camp’ to the comfort of my Hung Hom apartment (where I had the benefit of a fetcher ala Jake White… my son and his close proximity to my well-stocked fridge!).  I continued reporting ‘Live’ on the goings-on in Adelaide from here until the emphatic victory over Kenya in the Cup Final.  Thankfully I had posted the family down to the swimming pool so I was alone in the 15th floor apartment to kick up an ENORMOUS RACKET when the final whistle blew during the Cup Final!!  Shozoloza  and some ancient kwaito, Theuns Jordaan and Johnny Clegg hits reigned supreme.

Family embarrasment averted!

My Boys WON and that was ALL that mattered.

After Hong Kong last week and Adelaide this weekend, I’m a spent man.

However, through it all today, I was sporting a lekke grin because for most of the day, Blitzbokke.com had one over the humongous, Media24-backed www.sport24.co.za… (my premier online source for sport from back home):

We provided LIVE coverage from the Adelaide International Sevens. 

While www.sport24.co.za were still showing the Bokke’s loss over the Kenyans yesterday on their website, Blitzbokke.com got on with the REAL-TIME stuff.

Not too shabby for a one-man-cheering team.

Of hoe?

I so have to be in London and Edinburgh!  Any support?

(irb.com Sunday April 5, 2009)

South Africa beat continental rivals Kenya 26-7 to retain the Adelaide International Sevens and stretch their lead at the top of the IRB Sevens World Series table to 28 points with two events to play.

Kenya earlier won a historic victory against World Cup runners-up Argentina to reach a first ever Cup final, but the Boks proved too strong in the final and hammered home their superiority at the Adelaide Oval.

With 104 Series points Paul Treu’s full-time Springbok Sevens squad now leads the race for the Series from England on 76, with Fiji (74), Argentina (68) and New Zealand (64) most likely now all vying for second place.

Series points: South Africa (20), Kenya (16), Argentina (12), Fiji (12)

A year after inspiring South Africa to victory here at the Adelaide Oval in 2008, Robert Ebersohn scored a try after just 28 seconds to give his side an immediate 7-0 lead against the Kenyans. Humphrey Kayange’s try levelled the scores at 7-all but Vuyo Zangqa struck before the break for a 14-7 half time lead.

The second period was dominated by South Africa as they attacked at pace and defended well against Kenya’s danger man out wide Collins Injera. They did have to wait a further eight minutes to register their third try, though, which came from a delightful solo effort by Ryno Benjamin, and Renfred Dazel rounded off a convincing performance with their fourth try to make the final score 26-7.

The athletic Kenyans earlier won a fine semi final against Argentina 17-5 to confirm their status as a genuine power at the top of the Sevens game, while South Africa beat Hong Kong champions Fiji 21-10 thanks to two tries by Lionel Mapoe and a clincher by Zangqa.

Watch this Boy: Lionel Mapoe is set for big things!

The South African Springboks, with their emphatic victory over fellow-Africans Kenya in the Cup Final of the Adelaide Sevens today, take a maximum of 20 points into the IRB Sevens World Series’ overall log. 

After their 18 point haul in Hong Kong last week, the Kenyans will have to be satisfied with a total of 16 points from the Adelaide leg.  This leaves them in 6th position behind last years Series Champions, New Zealand.

England, having won the Plate Final in Adelaide today, is in second position on 76 points.  Fiji, last weekend’s Hong Kong Sevens Cup Champions, is a further 2 points adrift at 74 points.  The Fijians have made a complete turnaround after Hong Kong, not having won a tournament for 2 years before Hong Kong.

The Top 6 places on the IRB Sevens World Series Log are:

South Africa       104 points

England                76 points

Fiji                          74 points

Argentina              68 points

New Zealand       64 points

Kenya                    58 points

Bokke Bo!

Who’s dancing now?!

The Kenyan Sevens players burning up the dance floor in Hong Kong!

To Kenya…

We salute you, our African Brothers! 

Today, you made history.

You are no longer wanna-be’s,

You are Players.

We look forward to meeting you in the future.

Cheers!

     Cheers Boys!  We are Very (nee man!) Moerse Proud of you!

The first-ever All-African Cup Final in the history of the IRB Sevens World Series: South Africa vs. Kenya.

First Half

(Mpho Mbiyozo is Captaining the Final.)

Try-time! Robert Ebersohn (7-0)

Try: Kayenge, Kenya (7-7)  

Try-time! Vuyo Zangqa (14-7)

Penalty: SA (drop missed, Dazel)

Half-time score:

South Africa 14 – 7  Kenya

Second Half

Kyle Brown is playing HIS HEART OUT! 

Chase Minnaar ON for Frankie Horne.

Try Time! Rayno Benjamin (19-7)

Try Time Baby! Renfred Dazel (26 – 7)

It’s OVERS!

Full-time score:

South Africa 26 – 7  Kenya